In Defense of Lecturing
Mary Burgan,
Change,
Nov 21, 2006
In TALO, John Gregory wrote, "Will Richardson says we don't need college. Daniel Pink says high school's out too. How low can we go? Can a fourth grader replace every positive aspect of traditional schools with an online education? A second grader?"
I responded, "Why do people always represent this sort of thing as though the student would be doing it completely on his or her own? Nobody expects a fourth grader to 'replace every positive aspect of traditional schools.' Sheesh, they're kids, not government employees. But it's a very different question to ask, are the positive aspects only possible via traditional schools? Could kids obtain (vs. create) these positive aspects without the need for traditional schools. A very different question and, I think, a very different answer."
Meanwhile, James Neill went in the other direction and noted, "Mary Brugan - In defence of lecturing doesn't buy it." Though I would note that her defense is of practice and repetition as much as it is of lecturing.
I responded, "Why do people always represent this sort of thing as though the student would be doing it completely on his or her own? Nobody expects a fourth grader to 'replace every positive aspect of traditional schools.' Sheesh, they're kids, not government employees. But it's a very different question to ask, are the positive aspects only possible via traditional schools? Could kids obtain (vs. create) these positive aspects without the need for traditional schools. A very different question and, I think, a very different answer."
Meanwhile, James Neill went in the other direction and noted, "Mary Brugan - In defence of lecturing doesn't buy it." Though I would note that her defense is of practice and repetition as much as it is of lecturing.
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